Could the Mars Rover Technology become Military Weapons?

Don't be so picky Fred, I was rounding. Yes, the Hubble has a 2.4 meter
mirror. The KH-11 spysat was current technology at the time Hubble was
under development and had a very similar sized mirror, I've heard either
2.3 meter or 2.4 meter. The actual size is still classified I believe.

I think so too. But the Soviets got sold a Top Secret manual of the KH-11
around 1975 by a CIA guy. I would much like to read it, you too?

In any case, Perkins did indeed grind the mirrors for the Keyhole
satellites as well as Hubble and had equipment in place to handle blanks
capable of resulting in an approximately 2.4 meter finished mirror size.
I don't think these facts are really in doubt. Certainly Perkin's
experience, capability, and then current equipment was a factor in the
final mirror sized that was selected for Hubble.

Here's an extract from the KH-11 entry on Wikipedia:

"Nine or ten KH-11 satellites were launched between 1976 and 1990 aboard
Titan-3D and -34D rockets, with one launch failure. The KH-11 replaced
the KH-9 film return satellite, among others, the last of which was lost
in a liftoff explosion in 1986. It is believed to resemble the Hubble
Space Telescope in size and shape, as the satellites were shipped in
similar containers.

IIRC that was mentioned by Henry

Furthermore, a NASA history of the Hubble[3] states
about the reasons for switching from a 3 meter main mirror to a 2.4
meter design: 'In addition, changing to a 2.4-meter mirror would lessen
fabrication costs by using manufacturing technologies developed for
military spy satellites.' "

Not just the outer dimensions, even the optics may had some similarities
with the KH-11. The USAF (may got rumours that Perkin Elmer screwed
the grind) offered NASA (MSFC) an end to end test for free on their
own optical test stand. MSFC declined the offer. I suspect the KH-11
did not use the hyperbolic Ritchey-Chretien System but a more simple
one to grind. Thats why PE needed a special test rig they screwed in
building.

Btw, the Solar panels were not from the KH-11 but ESA. The KH-11
people did know that the ESA panels wont work, but it was launched
anyway.


SENECA

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